On Tuesday, April 7, 2020 we learned about the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development’s (DYCD) decision around canceling its 2020 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), as well as its Ladders for Leaders program. The news devastated our organization and its supporters, as we could not fathom the effect this would have on the young people of New York City who gain access to critical employment opportunities through this resource.